A recent hire brings the Stuart Police Department back up to a three man force. Iowa native Derek Lanser joined the force late last month. He is a 2011 graduate of Pella High School and in 2014 he received his associates degree in police science from Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo. Working for the Stuart Police Department is Lanser’s first job in law enforcement. He will receive a few months of on the job training before heading to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in the fall.